The Detroit Tigers scored a huge series win this week against the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians inside Comerica Park, taking three of four with the MLB All-Star Break just around the corner. Next up are their final opponent ahead of the midsummer breather, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who arrive in the Motor City on Friday for a three-game weekend tilt.
The Dodgers currently lead the National League West by a seven-game margin over the second-place San Diego Padres. However, L.A. is just 3-7 in its last 10 games having lost four-straight games — including a sweep at the Philadelphia Phillies — coming into this one.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are still buried 13 games behind the Guardians sitting in fourth place in their division and seven games out of the wild card race.
Below is a look at the starting pitching matchups for this weekend, with both teams posting a TBD for Sunday’s afternoon affair.
Detroit Tigers (45-49) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (55-39)
Times (ET): Friday: 6:40 p.m.; Saturday: 1:10 p.m.; Sunday: 1:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: True Blue LA
Media: Bally Sports Detroit, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 95 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Skubal | 110.0 | 30.5 | 4.6 | 2.54 | 3.4 |
| Paxton | 80.2 | 16.2 | 11.6 | 4.92 | 0.3 |
Game 95: LHP Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.37 ERA) vs. LHP James Paxton (7-2, 4.24 ERA)
Skubal wraps up one of the best first halves by a Tigers pitcher in recent memory on Friday, earning an All-Star bid while proving to be one of the best pitchers in the game right now. The 27-year-old put up one of his best efforts last time out, striking out a career-high 13 batters over seven innings while allowing a run on three hits and zero walks to earn his 10th win.
Paxton, now in his 11th year of big league ball, continues his struggles since his first season with the New York Yankees despite a mildly improved ERA since. The 35-year-old has a tendency to throw a few good games then completely lose it — as he did two outings ago at the San Francisco Giants, when he was bombed for nine runs on 12 hits (one home run) and two walks over four frames.
Game 96 Pitching Matchup
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | IP | K% | BB% | FIP | fWAR |
| Montero | 21.1 | 21.8 | 6.9 | 4.95 | 0.0 |
| Wrobleski | 5.0 | 21.1 | 10.5 | 7.97 | 0.3 |
Game 96: RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 4.64 ER) vs. LHP Justin Wrobleski (0-1, 7.20 ERA)
Montero toes the rubber for his fourth MLB start on Saturday and the rookie has shown progress already through his first 20-plus innings thrown. Over his last two starts, the 24-year-old has posted a 1.42 ERA and 3.88 FIP stretching across 12 2⁄3 innings, allowing nine hits (one home run) and a pair of walks while striking out eight.
Wrobleski is another rookie getting the nod this weekend with just one career start under his belt coming into the game. The 23-year-old taken in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB draft employs a five-pitch arsenal, headlined by a four-seam fastball (56.6%, 95.2 mph), followed by a cutter (25.0%, 87.9 mph), slider (13.2%, 84.9 mph), changeup (3.9%, 82.1 mph) and sinker (1.3%, 92.4 mph).
Game 97: TBD vs TBD
The Tigers are expected to have a bullpen game on Sunday with Kenta Maeda relegated to the bullpen for the foreseeable future.
Series Outlook: Close things out on a high note
The Dodgers have been struggling of late and much of that is due to the attrition of injuries they have faced. After bullying the Guardians this past week, the Tigers have to feel good about their chances this weekend — especially with Skubal taking the mound for one of the games. Los Angeles is not exactly putting out the top of its rotation and with a bullpen day on Sunday, who knows what could happen?
Taking two of three would be a great way to coast into the All-Star Break.